James Gunn’sCreature Commandosfeatures several actors that the writer and director has previously collaborated with. Gunn is a prolific and talented Hollywood director with a unique sense of humor. This has led to Gunn producing several films that are distinctive delivered with his style and tone of voice. And, as a director who has a clear vision for his work, it makes sense that he enjoys working with familiar actors that he builds a relationship with.
This is very common for popular directors, recruiting a core team of actors they can rely on, and then expanding that circle to include new actors with each new project. Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorsese, and many others have frequent collaborators, and starting with that relationship already formed undoubtedly makes the project flow better. Now, as Gunn begins building the reformedDCU, it makes sense for thedirector to turn to trusted actors to help him get the franchise off the ground, and that is exactly what he hasdone withCreature Commandos.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Super (2010)
Comic Book Store Jerk
Steve Agee appears inCreature Commandosin the familiar role of John Economos. This character was first introduced in the 2021 movie,The Suicide Squad, and he is an expert computer scientist who works with government officials like Amanda Waller. Hisrole inCreature Commandosis minor, as he plays a supporting character, but considering he has already played the role inThe Suicide SquadandPeacemaker, it appears that he will continue to appear as Economos for some time to come.
Did you like Creature Commandos references to past DC projects?
Creature Commandos episodes 1 & 2 featured multiple references to James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad and Peacemaker season 1, effectively canonizing (most) of their events into the new DCU. Considering how many of those actors and characters are continuing into the new universe, I’m happy to see that their stories are for the most part remaining in this new continuity.
And while both of those projects were also helmed by James Gunn, this actually marks Agee’s sixth collaboration with Gunn. Prior to tackling the role of Economos, Agee was cast in a minor comedy role inSuperin 2010. Clearly, he made an impression with Gunn, who called on Agee to play a slightly more developed role inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and again inBrightburn. Now, Agee has found aconsistent opportunity playing Economos in the DCU.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Cosmo the Dog (Voice)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Maria Bakalova has a pivotal role inCreature Commandosas Princess Ilana. Ilana has an intenseattraction to Rick Flag Sr., but her primary responsibility is to her country, Pokolistan.Bakalova’s talents as a voice actressalso meant she was able to play an additional role for the series as the Old Woman seen briefly inCreature Commandos.
Bakalova’s talents as a voice actress have also made her a useful collaborator for Gunn while he was working in the MCU, as he cast her as the voice of Cosmo the Dog. Cosmo joins the team in the 2022 Holiday Special, and then continues to work with the Guardians inGotG Vol. 3. As a professional voice actor,Bakalova will likely be called on for many more rolesin animated shows as the DCU continues to expand.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Tromeo and Juliet (1996)
Sammy Capulet
Sean Gunn is a multi-talented actor whose career has led to him being a motion capture actor, a voice actor, and an on-screen performer in numerous roles. InCreature Commandos, he puts these skills to good use as he plays the dual roles of two of the main commandos, Weasel and GI Robot. While one of these roles does not necessarily speak, they are bothgreat opportunities for the actor to display his skills.
DC’s Changes To Creature Commandos' Comics Origin & Characters Explained
The DCU’s Creature Commandos have arrived, albeit with some pretty big differences between this new task force and the team from the original comics.
While Gunn has clearly found actors whom he enjoys working alongside through his work, Sean is actually James' brother. As a result, the pair had a relationship long before working in films professionally. However, with both of the brothers displaying unique skills, and being drawn to different aspects of the filmmaking process, they buoyed each other up. Initially, whenJames Gunn was starting out as a writer, he also did someon-screen work alongside his brother, before stepping into a more permanent behind the camera role and tackling directing as well. And along the way, his brother Sean was often recruited to take on complex roles.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Amanda Waller
Like Steve Agee,Viola Davis has had the opportunity to reprise her rolefromThe Suicide SquadandPeacemakeras Amanda Waller. This tough as nails head of a secretive government organization has loose morals and a quick trigger finger, and she feels that the ends often justify the means. However, it has landed her in trouble at various times due to her reckless behavior and unusual collaborators, which include criminals, murderers, and monsters.
Viola Davis has had the opportunity to reprise her role fromThe Suicide SquadandPeacemakeras Amanda Waller.
However, Viola Davis is also one of the more recent collaborators to join Gunn’s team. Despite having appeared in three projects with the writer and director, Davis has only played one character. However, it is very likely that the pair work well together, both judging by the results of their work, and their enthusiasm about returning to work on projects with each other.Davis has a future in the DCU, and likely if Gunn begins working on other projects beyond the DCU too.
Denarian Garthan Saal
Finally, Peter Serafinowicz has been cast inCreature Commandosto play Victor Frankenstein. Victor is a brilliant and twisted scientist who is able to grant life to the dead, as he brings together body parts to form a monster. However, Frankenstein’s first monster became incredibly lonely, and begged his master to build him a wife who would be like him. Serafinowicz does a great job in the role of Victor, as he tries to balance the intense emotions of his monster, and train his new creature, the Bride, to live as normally as is possible for a reanimated corpse.
Who is your favorite character from DC’s Creature Commandos so far?
The first project of James Gunn’s DC Universe has arrived. After two episodes of Creature Commandos, I have already started to like some characters more than others, though that should change over the season, as each episode is supposed to focus on a member of the team. So far, Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. is my favorite Creature Commandos character, playing a similar role to his son’s on the Suicide Squad as the team’s field leader. In second place comes The Bride, whose tragic backstory was fascinating in episode 2.
However, this was not the first time Gunn and Serafinowicz had worked together. Previously, Gunn paired up with the talented actor while working under the banner of the MCU, onGuardians of the Galaxy.Serafinowicz plays a high ranking agent of the Nova Corpson the planet Xandar. He was unfortunately killed in the Battle of Xandar, giving up his life to protect his home, and aiding in the defeat of Ronan the Accuser. While hisCreature Commandosrole is minor, there are plenty more opportunities for the actor to appear in the DCU, and future projects, alongside James Gunn.
Javelin
Flula Borg gets a minuscule role inCreature Commandos, making it his third part in a James Gunn project.He voices a German Oberst in episode three of the series, operating as a Nazi combatant to GI Robot and the rest of Easy Company during World War II. Flula Borg gets roughly one line of dialogue in his role before being brutally killed by GI Robot who is gleefully slaying all the surrounding Nazis.
Flula Borg is quickly becoming an actor that seems likely to return for multiple James Gunn projects moving forward, no matter what size of the role. The first Gunn film he was in wasThe Suicide Squadin 2021, playing Javelin, one of the members of Task Force X. Like most of the members of that team, he was quickly killed off during the opening battle scene. Flula Borg then had a tiny role inThe Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Specialas a bartender that serves Mantis and Drax when they go to Earth.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 (2014)
Slither (2006)
Grant Grant
Despite appearing in only episode 3 ofCreature Commandos,Michael Rooker’s part as Sam is quite memorable, allowing for some fascinating character development for GI Robot. As a WWII fanatic, Sam purchases the decommissioned GI Robot, restoring him and giving him a family once again. Unfortunately, Sam turns out to be a white supremacist and GI Robot murders him and everyone else at the meeting they go to.
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Michael Rooker has a long history of appearing in James Gunn’s projects, including his long-running role as Yondu in theGuardians of the Galaxyfranchise. In fact, Rooker was featured in James Gunn’s directorial debut back in 2006, with the horror filmSlither. Since then, Rooker has continued to play a varied number of roles in Gunn’s films. Even though Michael Rooker has already appeared inCreature Commandos, it is likely he will play another character at some point in the DCU.
Pet Store Employee
Linda Cardellini gets a decent-sized role inCreature Commandos, episode 4, “Chasing Squirrels.“She plays Elizabeth Bates, the attorney for Weasel, and the only one who believes that he is innocentdespite being found guilty of killing a number of children. Cardellini’s character seems to be the only one who thinks of Weasel as a human being, repeatedly calling him John and trying to prove his innocence. She visits him at Belle Reve, upset to learn that he has been away on a mission.
She also played Velma in the two live-actionScooby-Doomovies that James Gunn wrote.
Linda Cardellini’s appearance inCreature Commandosbrings her total work on James Gunn projects up to three, followingSuperin 2010 andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Her role inSuperis relatively small but her voice and motion capture work inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3is commendable, portraying Rocket’s otter friend, Lylla, during the film’s emotionally heavy flashbacks. With Cardellini continuing to appear in James Gunn movies, it is possible she could have another role in the DCU at some point, outside of her being featured inCreature Commandos.
Creature Commandos
Cast
Creature Commandos follows the exploits of a secret team of incarcerated monsters recruited for perilous missions unsuitable for humans. Released in December 2024, the film explores themes of redemption and collaboration as the monstrous squad is tasked with handling threats that present dire challenges beyond human capability.
